Enthusiastic audiences attend Martin Luther King Jr. tributes

Pat Wright, founder and director of the Total Experience Gospel Choir, sings at the Harborview program.

Clare McLean

Alula Asfaw, speaking at Harborview, founded the Dream Project.

Clare McLean

Enrique Cerna speaks at the Health Sciences event

Clare McLean

Members of the UW African Students Association Ethiopian Dance Group perform in a swirl of color at the Health Sciences event.

Programs at Harborview Medical Center on Jan. 9 and at the Health Sciences Building on Jan. 15 attracted enthusiastic audiences to pay tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. and his ideals before the national holiday on Jan. 19.

At Harborview, speakers included King County Executive Ron Sims, HMC Executive Director Eileen Whalen, and Board of Trustees President William Fallon. Deborah Horne of KIRO-TV was the emcee and the keynote speaker was Alula Asfaw, a recent UW graduate who started the Dream Project, an outreach and service-learning program. Pastor Patrinell “Pat” Wright, founder and director of the Total Experience Gospel Choir, sang as part of the event. The theme was “Realizing Opportunities.”

At the Health Sciences Building, the program was jointly sponsored by UW Medical Center and Health Sciences Administration and hosted by Steve Zieniewicz, executive director of UW Medical Center.

The theme, “A Dream Realized: Forward Together with Hope,” was a perfect fit with the celebratory mood. The keynote speaker was Enrique Cerna, executive director of production for KCTS public television, and the student speaker was Clarita Lefthand, of the School of Public Health. Entertainment included the UW African Students Association Ethiopian Dance Group, poetry by Jourdan Keith and the Eckstein Middle School Jazz Band. Community Service Awards were presented and the Distinguished Service Award was given to Ezra Teshome, a native of Ethiopia who has worked on many projects to benefit his native country, including polio vaccinations, micro-credit programs, and safe-water projects.